Abstract: A multicolor organic light-emitting display having an array of pixels having at least two different colors including a substrate; a reflective layer disposed over the substrate; and a first transparent electrode disposed over the reflective layer. The display also includes a second transparent electrode spaced from the first transparent electrode and an organic EL media disposed between the first and second transparent electrodes and arranged to produce white light. The display further includes at least first and second filters of different colors disposed respectively over different predetermined pixels of the array, and wherein the thickness of the first transparent electrode is separately adjusted for each different color to cause a substantial amount of the reflected component of colored light corresponding to its associated color filter to constructively interfere with a substantial amount of the non-reflected component of colored light corresponding to its associated color filter.

Abstract: A method of depositing a patterned organic layer includes providing a manifold and an OLED display substrate in a chamber at reduced pressure and spaced relative to each other; providing a structure sealingly covering at least one surface of the manifold, the structure including a plurality of nozzles extending through the structure into the manifold. The method also includes delivering vaporized organic materials into the manifold, and applying an inert gas under pressure into the manifold so that the inert gas provides a viscous gas flow through each of the nozzles, such viscous gas flow transporting at least portions of the vaporized organic materials from the manifold through the nozzles to provide directed beams of the inert gas and of the vaporized organic materials and projecting the directed beams onto the OLED display substrate for depositing a pattern of an organic layer on the substrate.

Abstract: A new use for a structure including a plurality of nozzles extending through the structure, and the nozzles being spaced from each other in correspondence with the pattern to be deposited onto an OLED display substrate so that vaporized organic material is transported through the nozzles in a desired pattern for deposition onto the OLED display substrate.

Abstract: A method for controlling the deposition of an organic layer in making an organic light-emitting device includes depositing at a deposition zone organic material forming a layer of the organic light-emitting device and providing a movable sensor which, when moved into the deposition zone and is being coated during the depositing step, provides a signal representing the deposition rate and thickness of the organic material forming the layer. The method also includes controlling the deposition of the organic material in response to the signal to control the deposition rate and thickness of the deposited organic material forming the layer, moving the movable sensor from the deposition zone to a cleaning position, and removing organic material from the movable sensor to permit reuse of the movable sensor.

Abstract: This thin film-forming apparatus comprises a vacuum chamber 2 for forming a thin film on a target material 5, an evaporation source 3 arranged in the chamber 2 and having an evaporation port 33 through which the vapor of a material 40 to be vapor-deposited passes, and a moving mechanism 20 for moving the source 3 towards the widthwise direction of the port 33 between a prescribed waiting position and film-forming position of the source 3. This apparatus further comprises a film-thickness sensor 50 for detecting a film-forming speed of the material 40, which is arranged in a vicinity of the waiting position of the source 3 and on a side of the material 5. The source 3 is positioned opposite to the sensor 50 at the waiting position and is positioned opposite to the material 5 at the film-forming position.

Abstract: An evaporation source of the present invention has; a storage receptacle for accommodating an evaporation material, a cover member arranged thereabove and provided with a through hole, and a protective plate arranged beneath the through hole, and positioned with a rim portion outside of the periphery of the through hole. The cover member and the protective plate can be heated together. Even if the evaporation material melts and flies out in droplet form or solid particle form, the droplets or solid particles which fly out adhere to at least one of the cover member and the protective plate, and are then heated and vaporized. Therefore, the evaporation material does not fly out to outside the evaporation source in droplet form or solid particle form. Consequently, there is no deterioration in film quality, and the interior of the apparatus is not contaminated with the droplets or solid particles.

Abstract: A method of making an organic layer from an organic material on a substrate which will form part of an organic light-emitting device, including the steps of providing a sublimable organic material in a powder form; providing a thermally conductive and non-sublimable ceramic material in a powder form; forming a mixture of the sublimable organic material powder and thermally conductive and non-sublimable ceramic material powder; placing such mixture into a die and using a punch to apply sufficient pressure to the heated mixture to cause the mixture of powders to consolidate into a solid pellet; and removing the pellet from the die.

Abstract: A thermal physical vapor deposition apparatus includes an elongated vapor distributor disposed in a chamber held at reduced pressure, and spaced from a structure which is to receive an organic layer in forming part of an OLED. One or more detachable organic material vapor sources are disposed outside of the chamber, and a vapor transport device including a valve sealingly connects each attached vapor source to the vapor distributor. During vapor deposition of the organic layer, the structure is moved with respect to the vapor distributor to provide an organic layer of improved uniformity on the structure.

Abstract: Passive matrix pixelated organic electroluminescent (EL) devices are fabricated by using a single mask which defines a deposition zone for depositing an organic EL medium layer and a thin cathode by directing respective vapor streams towards a substrate in the deposition zone. A cathode bus conductor is formed over an electrically insulative base layer and at least one electrically insulative organic cathode bus shadowing structure is formed over the cathode bus conductor for providing electrical contact between a thin cathode and the cathode bus conductor in a position where the organic EL medium layer is spaced from a base of the cathode bus shadowing structure. The electrical contact is achieved by directing an organic EL materials vapor stream towards the substrate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the substrate, and by directing a cathode materials vapor stream towards the substrate under a subtended angle.

Abstract: An elongated thermal physical vapor deposition source for vaporizing organic materials in forming an OLED on a structure includes an elongated container for receiving vaporizable organic material, and an elongated vaporization heater sealingly disposed over the container. The vaporization heater includes a plurality of vapor efflux apertures formed along an elongated direction of the heater, and arranged to provide improved uniformity of vapor efflux of vaporized organic material along the elongated direction of the source.

Abstract: A method of making an organic layer from an organic material on a substrate which will form part of an organic light-emitting device, including the steps of providing a sublimable organic material in a powder form; providing a thermally conductive and non-sublimable ceramic material in a powder form; forming a mixture of the sublimable organic material powder and thermally conductive and non-sublimable ceramic material powder; placing such mixture into a die and using a punch to apply sufficient pressure to the heated mixture to cause the mixture of powders to consolidate into a solid pellet; and removing the pellet from the die.

Abstract: A method for controlling the deposition of an organic layer in making an organic light-emitting device includes depositing at a deposition zone organic material forming a layer of the organic light-emitting device and providing a movable sensor which, when moved into the deposition zone and is being coated during the depositing step, provides a signal representing the deposition rate and thickness of the organic material forming the layer. The method also includes controlling the deposition of the organic material in response to the signal to control the deposition rate and thickness of the deposited organic material forming the layer, moving the movable sensor from the deposition zone to a cleaning position, and removing organic material from the movable sensor to permit reuse of the movable sensor.

Abstract: A thermal physical vapor deposition source for vaporizing solid organic materials in forming an OLED on a structure includes a bias heater, an electrically insulative container disposed in the bias heater, and a vaporization heater disposed on the container. Relative motion is provided between the source and the structure to provide a substantially uniform organic layer on the structure.

Abstract: A method for controlling the deposition of an organic layer in making an organic light-emitting device includes depositing at a deposition zone organic material forming a layer of the organic light-emitting device and providing a movable sensor which, when moved into the deposition zone and is being coated during the depositing step, provides a signal representing the deposition rate and thickness of the organic material forming the layer. The method also includes controlling the deposition of the organic material in response to the signal to control the deposition rate and thickness of the deposited organic material forming the layer, moving the movable sensor from the deposition zone to a cleaning position, and removing organic material from the movable sensor to permit reuse of the movable sensor.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring and controlling formation of organic layers by physical vapor deposition of organic materials in making organic light-emitting devices is disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus includes a tubular source for thermal physical vapor deposition of organic layers in making organic light-emitting devices defines a cavity for receiving organic material. The tubular source is controllably heated to vaporize the organic material in the cavity and to provide a vapor stream exiting the cavity through a line of openings extending into the cavity. The apparatus defines a reduced pressure chamber having the tubular source and an OLED structure on which is deposited an organic layer. Relative motion between the source and the structure ensures that a relatively uniform layer of organic material is deposited on the structure.

Abstract: A method of handling powders of organic materials in making an organic light-emitting device (OLED) is disclosed. The method includes forming solid pellets from powders of organic materials and using such pellets in a thermal physical vapor deposition source for making an organic layer on a structure which will form part of an OLED.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring and controlling formation of organic layers by physical vapor deposition of organic materials in making organic light-emitting devices is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for controlling the deposition of an organic layer in making an organic light-emitting device includes depositing at a deposition zone organic material forming a layer of the organic light-emitting device and providing a movable sensor which, when moved into the deposition zone and is being coated during the depositing step, provides a signal representing the deposition rate and thickness of the organic material forming the layer. The method also includes controlling the deposition of the organic material in response to the signal to control the deposition rate and thickness of the deposited organic material forming the layer, moving the movable sensor from the deposition zone to a cleaning position, and removing organic material from the movable sensor to permit reuse of the movable sensor.

Abstract: A method of making a non-pixelated organic electroluminescent (EL) device with a preformed image includes the steps of forming a light-transmissive anode electrode over a light-transmissive substrate; forming an organic EL medium structure over the anode electrode; forming a cathode electrode over the organic EL medium structure and providing a cover structure over the device; and forming a preformed image in the cathode electrode by using a laser beam to remove cathode material imagewise from the cathode such that when a voltage is applied between the anode and cathode electrodes light will not be emitted from the device in areas corresponding to the preformed image, and the preformed image will be observable by a viewer as a dark image surrounded by a bright field of light emitted through the substrate.